Frederica Academy Knights
Knights Gallop Into 2nd Round
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
One down and 3 to go.
That’s the message Brandon Derrick preached to his team after the game. The Knights were able to defeat Tiftarea Academy, 49-36. Frederica now advances to round two of the GISA state playoffs against Heritage High School.
The Knights were coming off of a difficult loss to Edmund Burke Academy. This loss might have been a blessing in disguise for the Knights. The 21-19 defeat got the Knights attention.
Coach Derrick used this moment as a great coaching moment. His Monday speech after the EBA game sparked a different attitude at practice for the last two weeks. Coach asked for more from his team and the Knights stepped up in practice.
The Knights came out of the locker room fired up and it showed on the field. The Knights defense forced a fumble on Tiftarea’s first possession. Isaiah Jackson was able to score a few plays later.
After a huge run inside the 10 by Spence Massey of Tiftarea, the Knights defense was able to keep them out of the endzone. Frederica’s next score came when Jaylin Simpson connected with Jashawn Sheffield for a 59-yard touchdown.
The Knight defense was able to hold Tiftarea’s offense once again on their next possession. Great plays by Rett Thompson, Santana Clark, Cole Hinson, Cameron Gardner, Deke Jernigan, and Harry Veal helped shut down the run. Isaiah Jackson was able to scamper for a 51-yard touchdown on the Knights next possession.
Tiftarea was able to score on their next possession but the Knights answered on the ensuing kickoff with a return for a touchdown by Isaiah Jackson. Tiftarea was able to tack on one more score before the half. The score at the half was 28-14.
The 3rd and 4th quarter saw a lot of offense from both teams. The Knights finished with 454 yards of offense with 363 of those yards coming from the ground.
The offensive line had an amazing game on Friday. They helped open up holes the entire night. This group hopes to do the same thing next week.
The Knights defense played great. They seem to be in position the entire night. A few missed tackles here and a few missed tackles there made this game way more interesting than it had to be. The Knights hope to make those corrections next week before the second round matchup.
Last year the Knights fell to Deerfield Windsor in the second round.
Before the second round matchup, the Knights faced Edmund Burke Academy and Bethlehem Christian. The Knights won both of those game convincingly and went into the second round matching relatively unchallenged.
This year will be a little different. The loss against Edmund Burke and the tough matchup against Tiftarea should keep the Knights focused going into the second round.
Frederica hopes to build off of this past week’s performance. The Knights have been challenged throughout the season. Next Friday will not be any different. The Heritage Hawks will bring their best game to the island. The Knights have to prepare with this in mind.
Brandon Derrick Show Oct 25
Knights Gallop Into Playoffs
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Frederica Knights got a much needed bye week this week before round 1 of the playoffs start next week.
Last week, the Knights lost their last region game of season against Edmund Burke. This could be a blessing in disguise for Brandon Derrick’s Knights.
There is no doubt that Frederica has one of the most talented teams in GISA. Sometimes it takes losing a game you are not expected to lose to bring out a team’s full potential.
The Knights have had a great week of practice while preparing for their first round matchup at home next Friday. They have prepared for two teams this week, but they will know their first round opponent some time on Saturday.
Their first round matchup will be against Tiftarea or Southland. The Knights got their first ever AAA win against Tiftarea 3 years ago.
Tiftarea is a strong and physical team that is led by a physical running back. Southland is also a well coached and physical team.
Regardless of who steps on the field, Frederica’s first round matchup will be a physical one. The Knights have been tested though. If you ask Coach Brandon Derrick he will tell you that he scheduled Parklane Academy and Wesleyan to prepare his team for this very moment.
Frederica will go into the playoffs with a 5-3 record. Looking back on the season, The Knights have still not played their best football yet.
Their 3 losses could have easily been wins. Early turnovers against Parklane Academy cost them there. The same can be said for the Wesleyan game. Their 3rd loss could be attributed to simply turning it “ON” a little too late. These losses should and will help keep the Knights motivated for the playoffs.
The offense of the Knights this season has been impressive at times. It has averaged over 300 yards a game this season. Over 200 of the yards have come on the ground.
Jaylin Simpson and Isaiah Jackson have helped lead the Knights in that category. Simpson has rushed for over 600 (passed for over 650) and Jackson has rushed for over 500.
Michael Tindle and the rest of the offensive line has done an amazing job helping lead the Knights rushing attack. They have done a great job under first year offensive line coach, Bill Stafford.
The Knights defense has played well this regular season too. Harry Veal has been the anchor for the defense. Veal leads the team with over 60 tackles on the season. I do not think there is a more physical linebacker than Veal in Southeast Georgia.
Deke Jernigan has also done a great job playing linebacker. He and Veal have been a difficult duo to manage for offenses, Cameron Gardner, Rett Thompson, Cole Hinson, Trace Dorminy, and Tyler Pierce have done a great job on the defensive front on the season.
After the rough start at Parklane, they really zoned in and helped make things difficult in the trenches.
The secondary also played well. Jaylin Simpson, JT Elliott, Avery Cobb, Jackson Wetzler, Isaiah Jackson, Santana Clark, Eric Tatum, and Jashawn Sheffield have done a great job making it difficult for team to hurt the Knights over the top.
Frederica’s defense has forced over 20 turnovers on the season. Defensive Coordinator, Ben Burkett, hopes to add to that total when the playoffs start.
October 27th is win or go home. There are no more guaranteed games.
The next time the senior Knights touch the field could be their last. Brandon Derrick told his team at the beginning of the season that the goal was to be standing at Mercer University on November 17th holding the state championship trophy. Now is the time to make that goal a reality.
Brandon Derrick Show Oct 18
Knights Need Help
By: Alex Mathis
TheSouthernSportsEdition.com news services
The Knights traveled to Edmund Burke Academy to attempt to wrap up its second consecutive region championship.
Coming off of a tough and emotional win against Bulloch Academy last week, Frederica turned their focus to a determined EBA team. The Knights beat EBA 34-7 last year, but this is not the same EBA team from last year and Coach Derrick stressed that to his team throughout the week.
Frederica would start off slow this week just as they did last week against Bulloch.
Frederica’s offense saw their first two drives end in punts. John Mitchell Brock did an excellent job helping flip the field position for the Knights.
Early on, Frederica’s defense struggled with the option offense of Edmund Burke. It’s all about eye discipline and assignment football when facing an offense like this. Edmund Burke was able to find success early on running the ball.
Frederica was finally able to move the ball on their 3rd drive. It started with a long pass from Jaylin Simpson to Jashawn Sheffield to the 4-yard line. Rett Thompson was able to punch it in from there.
A botched snap on the extra point attempt made the score 7-6, EBA. EBA would tack on one more score before the half. Their QB was able to break outside containment and make some nifty moves to score. At the half the score was 14-6, EBA.
The second half started off a little rocky for Frederica. The opening second half kickoff was a pooch kick that ended up in the hands of an EBA defender.
The Spartans scored on their next drive making the score 21-6. The Knights were able to tack on two more scores.
Jaylin Simpson connected with Jashawn Sheffield for a long touchdown, and then Jaylin Simpson scored the next touchdown but the Knights failed to convert the two point conversion.
Frederica got the ball back one more time with 4 seconds left in the game. Jaylin’s pass came up short and the Knights dropped their first region game of the season, 21-19.
Frederica will now play the waiting game for second consecutive year. Last year, the Knights needed Pinewood to help them win the region championship.
This year it will be the Trinity Christian Crusaders. If the Crusaders beat the Spartans, the Knights will be the region champs. If EBA wins, the Knights will be the number 2 seed going into the playoffs.
Frederica will have their work cut out for them in round 1. Their first-round matchup will not be like the first-round matchup of last year.
No matter the seeding, the Knights will face a pretty good opponent in the first round. Coach Derrick’s message to his team was a simple one. “Prepare each week like you’re the Alabama Crimson Tide. We are going to get everyone’s best shot.”
The Knights must take advantage of the bye week next week. The injured and the sick get a week to heal up. The Frederica will also have a week to work on the small things before their first-round matchup.
Frederica finished the regular season 5-3. Two of those losses coming against (out of conference) Parklane Academy and Wesleyan School. The Knights have been tested this year. Now it is time to see if those tests will pay off in the playoffs.
Jason Bishop Show w Kipp Branch Oct 14
SSE Minute Oct 14
Brandon Derrick Show Oct 11
SSE Minute Oct 7
Brandon Derrick Show Oct 4
